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Natural Flea Control for Pets


Why should you use natural
flea control for pets?  How about this for a reason...

“Caution: Hazardous to humans and domestic animals… Natural Flea Control for PetsAvoid contact with eyes, skin or clothing. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling.”

We found this on the label of one of the first flea control products on a major pet store’s website. Avoid contact with domestic animals’ SKIN? WHAT? Isn’t that what the product is made for?

It gets worse. 

Survival of the fittest applies to fleas as it does to all other living things. Those fleas that survive the poison do so because they are resistant to it. Then they give birth to more fleas that are also resistant to it.  The poison also weakens your dog. Since fleas are attracted to weak pets, making your dog weaker with synthetic flea products only compounds the problem.

So what should you do?

If you do have a flea problem…

First, don’t feel badly. Natural flea control for pets is one of the most common inquiries we receive – welcome to the club!

Second, Natural Flea Control for Petskeep to the schedule – weekly, monthly, etc. as indicated - for the best (and least harmful) results.

Note that the home mixtures and product recommendations are NOT meant for puppies. Puppies can develop more severe problems related to fleas, so if your pet is less than 4 months old you should consult your vet immediately. When using any products, be sure to follow the directions closely.

How to Tell if Your Dog Has Fleas

If you are unsure if your dog has fleas:

  1. Look closely at the base of your dog's hair, especially around the neck, ears, legs and the base of their tail. Fleas are small, black, quick-moving insects. Also look for flea dirt (flea droppings). 
  1. Place a damp paper towel on the floor and have your dog stand on top of it. Then comb your dog with a flea comb – if you see small specks of black that turn red with moisture (flea dirt), you know your dog has fleas.
In their November 2000 report, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) recommended that the EPA ban the use of an entire class of flea and tick control products – those using organophosphates (OP). In the same report the NRDC endorses natural flea control for pets.

The seven OP’s are chlorpyrifos, diazinon, dichlorvos, malathion, naled, phosmet and tetrachlorvinphos.

Although not cited in the NRDC’s report, also stay away from borax, borates, desiccants and rotenone.

Click here for the report’s list of EPA registered pet products containing organophosphates insecticides (about 2/3 of the way down the page).


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Prevention: Natural Flea Control for Pets Starts Here

Natural remedies for flea control should always take precedence over chemical treatments. The easiest way to “stay natural” is to discourage fleas by keeping your dog healthy through:
Natural Flea Control for Pets Taylor Tips! I eat right, stay clean, exercise and get regular check-ups. Even with my shaggy hair, I've never had a single flea!

Let’s review how else you can prevent fleas for both indoor and outdoor pets…

Indoor Pets

On a weekly basis, you should thoroughly clean your dog and home.  For your dog, see our recommendation at the bottom of the page for the best flea and tick shampoo. Natural Flea Control for Pets Vacuum and clean the floors, especially where your dog sleeps. To kill any unseen developing fleas, wash your dog bed in soapy, hot water, rinse in cold water then dry on high heat. Adding 10 drops of eucalyptus or lavender oil to the wash will act as natural flea repellent.

You should also steam clean your carpets at the beginning of flea season (spring) or whenever you are starting your prevention efforts.  Also try a Natural Flea and Tick Spray or fine milled powder for more aggressive flea prevention.

Natural Flea Repellents

-Clary sage
-Eucalyptus
-Fennel
-Garlic
-Lavender
-Peppermint
-Rosemary
-Rue
-Wormwood
-Yeast
-Yellow Dock

Outdoor Pets

Follow the same advice for outdoor pets, in addition to keeping a weekly lawn care schedule: Mow your lawn to allow sunlight to reach heat and kill flea larvae and water your lawn to drown fleas.

Encourage ants (!), or at least don’t try to do away with them through pesticides as they serve as a natural flea control for pets by eating the developing fleas. 

Finally, use an All-in One home and yard protector to round out your outdoor flea control efforts.

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Mild to Moderate Flea Problem

If you already have a flea problem, try these tips first in addition to the "Prevention: Natural Flea Control for Pets Starts Here" recommendations above.

Natural Flea Control for PetsDaily (or at least twice per week)

Flea comb your dog at least twice per week, possibly daily, paying special attention to the head, neck, back and rear-end.

As fleas come off your dog and onto the comb, dip the comb in hot, soapy water then rinse in cool, clean water.

When done, pour soapy water down the drain (not outside).

Next, search your dog's skin for any flea bites.  The skin in and around the area of a bite may have a small bump or appear red or swollen.  

If your dog has been bitten, first clean the effected area with a safe and natural solution.  Clenzor from Native Remedies works great.

Once the area is cleaned, observe your dog to find out if there is any discomfort around the bites.  Are they scratching or biting at the area?  If so, you can ease their discomfort with a natural cream such as FleaDerm.

Weekly

  • Take extra measures when vacuuming.

  • Since fleas are small enough to sometimes survive being vacuumed (tough little buggers), vacuum cleaner bags should be burned or frozen in an airtight bag before disposal.

  • Give your dog a bath with natural pet shampoo specially made using a natural flea control recipe.

Natural Flea Control for PetsMake sure that the shampoo you use is especially made for pets and contains only natural ingredients.

For added protection, you can add peppermint, lavender, clary sage or lemon to your dog shampoo if it does not already contain it.  The proper amount to add of each is 10 drops/100 ml.

Natural Flea Control Recipe
  1. Combine one part of as many of the following powdered herbs as possible:
    • Eucalyptus
    • Rosemary
    • Fennel
    • Yellow Dock
    • Wormwood
    • Rue
  2. Put mixture in shaker-top jar
  3. Apply the flea powder to your dog’s fur by brushing backwards and sprinkling it into the base of the hair (especially focus on the neck, back and belly).
  4. Immediately take your dog outside so the vacating fleas don’t wind up on your floor.
  5. Use this natural flea control recipe as frequently as necessary, up to many times per week for more serious infestations.
Note: Some herbal flea powders contain natural pyrethrins. While this is not a good flea killer, it is still a good natural flea control for pets as it does a great job warding them off.


Twice Per Year

  • Sprinkle unrefined, natural diatomaceous earth anywhere you cannot clean or the vacuum cannot reach. It is harmless to humans and pets, but it kills fleas by drying out their skin.
    • Do not use it directly on your pet. As with any fine powder, inhaling it can irritate the nasal passages.
    • Important note: Do NOT use the diatomaceous earth made for swimming pool filters.

Other Natural Remedies for Flea Control:

  • Add plenty of garlic and yeast (brewer’s or nutritional) to your dog’s diet
    • There are mixed reviews about how well this works, but those who support it feel that it works best with healthy dogs.
  • Apply a skin tonic created using a natural flea control for pets recipe.  You can either use the herbal defense spray recommended at the bottom of the page or create your own.  In addition to its use as a flea repellent, the renowned Juliette de Bairacli Levy recommends this lemon skin tonic for use as a treatment for mange and as a general skin toner:
Juliette de Bairacli Levy’s Lemon Skin Tonic
  1. Thinly slice a lemon along with the rind
  2. Add it to 1 pint of near-boiling water, then let it steep overnight
  3. Sponge the solution onto your dog’s skin and let it dry
  4. Apply as frequently as daily

  • Natural flea control for pets made with limonene and other citrus extracts is okay for adult dogs but should NOT beNatural Flea Control for Pets used with puppies as it can be toxic, especially when combined with other flea products.
  • Repellent herbs
    • Lavender – sprinkle around bedding or use a lavender pillow
    • Plant fennel, sage or wormwood near the kennel
  • Essential Oil Flea Collars
    • They do not kill fleas; they only repel them. If a more severe infestation has occurred or if your dog has been diagnosed with flea allergy dermatitis, essential oil flea collars may not be effective.

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Major or Chronic Flea Problem

Natural remedies for flea control work just as well as the methods containg toxic ingredients and pesticides.  Many researchers have developed excellent combinations of natural insect repellants for use on your pet, in your home and yard.

Here are details about what is contained in some of the products along with some other ideas to consider:
  • Have your carpets treated annually with anti-flea mineral salt. This gets away from natural flea control for pets, so discuss the level of toxicity of individual products with the specific service provider that you use. Different salts can have different levels of toxicity.
  • If the problem is totally out of control and you have tried all of the natural options below, consider an insect growth regulator (IGR). Send your dog away on the same day to be cleaned to be sure that you get rid of any freeloaders.
    • Even though they are not natural, IGR’s are low chemical, safe and one of the most effective products out there. They work by preventing the flea from Natural Flea Control for Petsdeveloping into an adult.
  • Parasitic nematodes are small worms that eat flea larvae. Since fleas have a very limited range of mobility, these are especially good if fleas are coming from a small patch in the yard or garden.
  • Electric flea traps emit heat to attract fleas to sticky paper and are also effective for a small, localized flea problem.

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Best Natural Flea Control Treatments and Products

If you have a flea problem or are trying to avoid one, you need to combat the problem on three fronts: 

  1. Your dog
  2. Your home
  3. Your yard
1.  For your dog, first you need to figure out whether or not they have fleas.  Use a flea comb as instructed in the "how to tell if your dog has fleas" section above.

If your dog has been bitten, first clean the affected area with Clenzor.  If your dog is still scratching or biting, you can ease their discomfort by applying a natural cream called FleaDerm.

Whether your dog has fleas or not, wash them with the all-natural flea deterring shampoo and conditioner listed below and follow that with the herbal defense spray.  Shampoo at least once every two weeks, more if necessary, and apply the defense spray before any trips to the park or hikes in the woods.

By using the correct preventative methods, your dog will be much less likely to harbor fleas or ticks.  


Flea Bite Cleaning and Soothing Cream

Clenzor - Natural cleanser for pet wounds, insect bites, skin conditions and infections - from $34.95

Clenzor cleans and soothes the skin and promotes the natural healing process.

Clenzor Benefits:
  • Clean and soothe your pet’s skin
  • Prevent skin infection by supporting the skin’s natural ability to heal
  • Encourage the natural immune response of the skin when injured

FleaDerm for Flea Bite Dermatitis - from $34.95

FleaDerm is a natural soothing cream to relieve common flea bites on dogs and cats.

FleaDerm Benefits:
  • Support skin health naturally
  • Reduce scratching
  • Soothe the skin surrounding common flea bites in pets

Flea & Tick Mist

Only Natural Pet Herbal Defense Spray for Dogs and Cats
Only Natural Pet Herbal Defense Spray for Dogs and Cats - Price $12.99 for 8 oz. bottle

This herbal defense spray is the perfect way to prevent fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and other pesky varmints from invading your dog or home.  It contains ONLY natural ingredients posing no toxic threat to any member of your family.

This spray uses ingredients like lemongrass and citronella to deter bites and is great for use before a hike in the woods or a trip to the dog park. Essential oils will also help to soothe the skin and make it feel super soft!

Many families with dogs use this spray and find that it works very well!  Click here to read experiences and reviews.



Flea & Tick Shampoo

Only Natural Pet Herbal Defense Shampoo For Pets
Only Natural Pet Herbal Defense Shampoo & Conditioner

This 70% Organic and all Natural Shampoo and Conditioner provide you and your dog with the best of flea protection plus skin and coat health. These products will keep your dogs coat clean and shiny without any of those harsh chemicals or pesticides.  

The shampoo uses natural herbal extracts such as neem oil and lemongrass to fend away pests along with ingredients to support skin health like aloe and jojoba oil.

The reviews are in...and these products do the trick, the natural way! Click here to read reviews.


2.  For your home
, Fleabusters Rx will do an excellent job covering your carpets and upholstery in a safe and natural way.  

Larger Area Treatment

Fleabusters Rx for Fleas Plus for Dogs and Cats
Fleabusters Rx for Fleas Plus
Price is $37.99 for 3 lbs

A totally natural yet extremely effective way to keep your home flea free!  This unique home flea control utilizes the flea repelling power of borate powder which has a very minimal effect on people and pets.

This is a very fine milled powder that clings to carpets and upholstery providing long lasting protection. It is extremely safe and non-toxic!  

To read the excellent reviews of the product, Click Here


Specific Area Treatment

Sentry Natural Defense Flea & Tick Spray for Dogs
Sentry Natural Defense Flea & Tick Household Spray - Price is $15.99 per bottle

This completely natural flea and tick repelling spray is an effective option for your home, car or clothing and the spray will be effective for up to 4 weeks.  

This spray is non-oily and will not stain.  It's active ingredient is d-limonene along with other natural repellants.  This spray works on all types of pests including ants, spiders and beetles. For indoor use only.

Click here to read reviews of this household spray.



3.  For your yard and home we recommend Only Natural Pet All-in-One Flea Remedy because its all natural and safe for use indoor or outdoors.

Only Natural Pet All-in-One Flea Remedy Powder for Dogs and Cats
Only Natural Pet All-in-One Flea Remedy - Price $14.99 for 8 oz power

This powder is the ultimate weapon against fleas!  It's called the All-in-one treatment becuase it kills fleas in your home and yard and is even safe for use directly on your pet.  

It's a non-toxic natural compound that has been used to kill
insects for centuries and its active ingredient, diatomaceous, is widely used for pest control in agriculture and gardening.  This is so safe that it can be ingested by humans with no side effects.

It comes with a 100% Money Back Guarantee

Click Here to read customer reviews of this product 


For additional research, search our site...




Also see...

    My Online Vet MD to ask our veterinarians your specific questions

    Dog Skin Conditions and Disorders

    Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

    Finding the Right Veterinarian

    Pet Insurance Reviews

Back to Common Dog Health Problems from Natural Flea Control for Pets

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